Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature, etiology, and relationship of these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his TDIU claim and the need for additional records from SSA. The case will be reviewed again after these issues are addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to the Veteran's military service. The heart disability claim will be remanded as a VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), are etiologically related to her military service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to consider any acquired psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive/compulsive disorder, depression, and a 'thought disorder'.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, dysthymia, and major depressive disorder, was found to have its onset in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board hearing. The initial rating of 10 percent for adjustment disorder, with mixed anxiety and depression, remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition, including depression and anxiety disorder with obsessive compulsive disorder traits, as secondary to his service-connected cervical sprain/strain, lumbosacral sprain/strain, and bilateral wrist tendonitis disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and personnel history.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining verification of in-service stressors and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for undifferentiated somatization disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions are believed to have originated during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a qualifying DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD and an in-service stressor sufficient to cause PTSD has not been verified. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability due to inconsistencies in his statements and military records, as well as potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity for a VA examination to determine if any of his psychiatric disabilities are related to or had their onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, MDD, MDD with psychotic features, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased initial rating for diabetes mellitus. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no medical evidence showing a causal link between the Veteran's current psychiatric disability and any in-service disease or injury.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain relevant records and provide necessary examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, PTSD/Depression, and a respiratory disability are on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of PTSD. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran did not meet at least two of the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and instead diagnosed him with anxiety disorder, NOS. The Veteran's symptoms are more consistent with his post-service period.